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Washington DC reception

Well, just returned from Washington Dulles International Airport and found that the reception for 3G and cell phone in DC, Falls Church, Baltimore, basically, everywhere in Virginia, Maryland and DC, were working perfectly. 3G was 24/7 (exception was on the Metro, though 3G seemed to be fine), cellphone was full bars every time I checked it out. Went head to head with my friend's BB Storm with websites and maps and he could barely finish typing in the info, and I had the directions, website or maps up and running. I even tethered up at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront in the lobby for two days straight without a hitch while running off 3G, and it was awesome.

Thanks for the info on Elevation Burger & Shakes = WOW!!! Sorry, but I missed the Five Guys, but there were quite a few of them throughout our travels...:cool::cool::cool:

Almost took the Metro RED Line today, but luckily we didn't. Still have my Metro cards with about $8.00 on two cards....:(:(:(
 
SFStateStudent said:
Thanks for the info on Elevation Burger & Shakes = WOW!!! Sorry, but I missed the Five Guys, but there were quite a few of them throughout our travels...:cool::cool::cool:

Almost took the Metro RED Line today, but luckily we didn't. Still have my Metro cards with about $8.00 on two cards....:(:(:(
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First things first, Five Guys is GREAT lol

Also, is the red line open again so soon? I figured it would be a little longer considering the circumstances.

And lastly, I don't live in DC but I am pretty close. Last time I was in DC the reception was great. I was mostly between the Verizon Center and the National Mall so I don't know about everywhere else but there it was full bars everywhere if I remember correctly. Also, in my area the reception is great (between DC and Baltimore). Full 3G everywhere except in the middle of certain buildings around here.
 
Drewsky87 said:
First things first, Five Guys is GREAT lol

Also, is the red line open again so soon? I figured it would be a little longer considering the circumstances.

And lastly, I don't live in DC but I am pretty close. Last time I was in DC the reception was great. I was mostly between the Verizon Center and the National Mall so I don't know about everywhere else but there it was full bars everywhere if I remember correctly. Also, in my area the reception is great (between DC and Baltimore). Full 3G everywhere except in the middle of certain buildings around here.
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Pretty sure they said the Red Line was gonna reopen this afternoon at the earliest...

For me, 3G has been exceptional in and around DC for the last year, but with 3.0, it's been a little shaky... I'm assuming it's just a software thing or just an issue with my phone because the network's been great since I got my iPhone 3G back in July.
 
Streamer said:
It could be a little better. That said, I've had a load of issues in the last few evenings. I've had dropped calls and at one point, no 3G or EDGE from Merrifield to Burke, VA. All GSM calls. I was wondering if AT&T have been working on their cells recently in that area.
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That info really concerns me because Fairfax County is my playground and I am getting my first iPhone is a week.
 
I live and work in the District.

Recently I have noticed I am starting to get 3g coverage in the Gallery Place Metro Station as well as Metro Center. it will only be 2 bars... but it is a start. I get great coverage all over DC with the following exceptions

US Capitol Crypt (under the Retunda)
Arlington Cemetary North side of the Lee Mansion
Inside National Catherdral
Inside the Theatre at Gallery Place
and a few random places in Old Town Alexandria

When the 3g first came out I was having a lot of dropped calls in the Chantilly Fairfax area as well as in the Burke and Vienna areas. After swapping 6 phones (don't get me started.. they kept saying it was a hardware issue and couldn't be their system) I have not had any dropped calls or issues with the 3Gs....

I carry a Sprint Blackberry 8330 for work and have full bars in the Metro and everywhere I go in DC... I Think but am not sure that sprint phones use Verizon's equipment when working in the Tunnels though....

.....and no I wasnt on the train when it happened but I was on A train and it was a mess trying to get home yesterday
 
Pardon my ignorance, but is 3g just data?

Some people said they only get 3g in some places in the metro. So you can browse the web, but not make/receive calls?
 
SFStateStudent said:
Thanks for the info on Elevation Burger & Shakes = WOW!!! Sorry, but I missed the Five Guys, but there were quite a few of them throughout our travels...:cool::cool::cool:
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Glad your trip was good! And I'm glad you liked Elevation Burger. It's one of my faves. Five Guys is a little more common - as recently as three or four years ago you could only find them around here, but since they started franchising, they've popped up all up and down the Eastern Seaboard. Especially in college towns. Just keep an eye out and give one a shot if you're ever on this side on the country.

And I just got my iPhone Friday, and can confirm now that the coverage is really quite good. I ran Google Earth for a few minutes on 3G out in Chantilly and it was very nearly WiFi speed. Good stuff! :cool:
 
BryanLyle said:
Coverage is pretty good. You'll have ZERO coverage underground in the Metro. I think VERIZON has the market for that. Hopefully, AT&T will work on that.
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The metro system was wired years ago by Verizon with support for Analog Cellular connections, and was installed in 93' in exchange for Verizon installing a communications system for WMATA.


Anyway, GSM coverage in NoVA is good. Actually, coverage has improved in recent months: ATT has fixed some dead zones in the Springfield/Franconia area (specifically around Belua and the Franconia/Fairfax County Parkway)
 
Coverage in DC is awesome. (Northern VA as well.) I commute from Fredericksburg to DC two days a week and never go below 5 bars on signal.

Coverage in the Metro is spotty, but the one place that always works for me is in the Chinatown station. You have to stand on the upper level in the middle of the platform, but you'll get a good 2-3 bars. I know because I always find myself stuck here for 10-15 minutes on Tuesday & Thursday afternoons. Comes in handy when you need to squeeze out that quick e-mail.

Tunnels along every line is another story.....
 
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